Two influencer sisters who claim they had no idea they were being used to lure punters into a scam when they were being invited to expensive dinners are facing decades in jail after prosecutors said their presence gave legitimacy to the GBP 1 million fraud.

Alisya Bahar Candan and her sister Gulnihal Cicek who used the name Nihal Candan were arrested following a six-month investigation into organised crime by police in Istanbul, Turkey, in November last year (2023).

The duo were seized among 20 other suspects believed to have been members of a criminal gang which laundered huge amounts of money but claimed that when they attended the business lunches where punters were persuaded to pay for expensive cars that were never delivered, they had no idea there was a fraud.

But Investigators claim the sisters likely used their online fame to lure in potential victims.

They were officially indicted of ‘qualified fraud’ by the Kucukcekmece Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, as the prosecution recently announced.

Alisya, who is thought to have been more involved in the scam, could face a prison sentence ranging from 14 to 44 years.

Her sister Nihal faces a potential prison sentence of eight to 24 years for the same charges.

Prosecutors also announced charges against suspects Onur Apaydin and İlker Oflu, accused of being the criminal network’s leaders.

During the investigation, the Istanbul Police Department and the Directorate of Security Branch determined that the suspects claimed to sell vehicles at cheap prices through tenders received from state institutions.

At least 13 victims came forward saying they were scammed out of approximately TRY 10 million (GBP 277,000).

In total, it was revealed that the gang defrauded approximately TRY 41.5 million (GBP 1.06 million) through this scheme.

But the suspects never delivered a single promised vehicle to the victims, citing problems with the tender, and did not give them any refunds.

Police said Onur would organise meals in luxury restaurants to introduce the vehicles he claimed to sell to the victims.

In these introductions, it was alleged that the sisters Alisya and Nihal appeared and their celebrity status reassured the punters that it was legitimate project.

Investigators believe that the participation of social media influencers helped to gain the victims’ trust.

Haci Israfil Saglam, a suspect whose statement is included in the indictment, reportedly mentioned attending organisational meetings and noted that field operatives and lower-level members never attended the top-level meetings.

He stated: “I saw Nihal Candan at two meetings. She was the girlfriend of the organisation leader Onur Apaydin.

“Others showed respect and kept a distance from her.

“Discussions about the organisation’s internal operations and vehicle transactions took place in her presence.”

The indictment also notes that Alisya played a more active role in the criminal organisation compared to her sister, Nihal.

But the sisters claimed they had nothing to do with the scheme and denied having met Onur more than once.

They reportedly dismissed a social media claim that they received TRY 12 million (GBP 330,000) as a simple joke.

Alisya said: “The real criminals are outside, there is no money in my account; we were arrested just because we are famous.”

She previously made headlines for offering USD 300 per day for a companion to accompany her on a trip to Dubai.

In the bizarre post, she wrote (in her native Turkish): “I am looking for a friend who will come to Dubai with me.

“Seven-star hotel, the privilege of flying business class with me. USD 300 every day, for a total of six days. Apply now.”

Before that, she attracted social media attention by offering to take one lucky fan to a fancy dinner and pay them USD 200.

The indictment is expected to be soon submitted to the high criminal court and the trial to officially begin.